Balloon holder and seal



J. R. DARBY Feb. 6, 1968 BALLOON HOLDER AND SEAL Filed Sept. 22, 1965 John RDarblj IN VE NTOR @11 lqgen r United States Patent Oilfice 3,366,9 Patented F eb. 6, 1968 3,366,999 BALLOON HOLDER AND SEAL John R. Darby, 5815 SE. Laurel St., Portland, Oreg. 97222 Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,303 Claims. (Cl. 24--81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An annular plastic body forms a peripheral wall, and a transverse wall is joined thereto. the peripheral wall has a plurality of spaced slots each communicating with an opening in the transverse wall. The peripheral wall also has a pluraltiy of additional slots associated with the first named slots to form pairs of slots extending from opposite ends of the peripheral wall. Each pair of slots serves to secure the deflated portion of a balloon, and the inflated portion thereof projects radially outward from the peripheral wall.

This invention relates to balloon holders, and has for its principal object the provision of a holder which serves to support a plurality of inflatable balloons in a variety of ornamental patterns and simultaneously to seal the balloons against the escape of gas.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a balloon holder and seal of the class described which is of simplified, one-piece construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a balloon holder and seal embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary end and plan views, respectively, showing holder and seal of FIG. 1 supporting a pair of balloons arranged in an ornamental design; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary and complete end views, respectively, showing the balloon holder and seal of FIG. 1 supporting a plurality of balloons arranged in a different ornamental design.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the balloon holder and seal of the present invention comprises a one-piece structure, preferably molded of synthetic plastic, which includes a peripheral wall and a transverse wall 12, preferably located at one end of the peripheral wall. The transverse wall is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 14 therethrough, preferably immediately adjacent the peripheral wall, and each of these openings communicates with an elongated narrow slot 16 which extends through the peripheral wall and terminates inward of the outer end of the wall.

Also provided in the peripheral wall are a plurality of additional elongated narrow slots 18 which extend inward from the outer end of the peripheral wall toward the transverse Wall. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the first and second named slots 16 and 18, respectively, are spaced alternately about the peripheral wall.

At least one additional opening also preferably is provided through the transverse wall. In the embodiment illustrated, one such opening 20 is provided at the center of the transverse wall. This opening is not connected to a slot in the peripheral wall.

The balloon holder and seal described hereinbefore may be utilized to support a plurality of balloons in a wide variety of ornamental patterns. One such arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, the open end of a substantially spherical balloon 22 is threaded through the central opening 20 in the transverse wall 12 and is then inflated. The deflated open end portion 24 of the balloon then is slipped into one of the elongated slots 18 where it is gripped frictionally, and the deflated portion extending from said slot is wrapped about a portion of the outer surface of the peripheral wall 12 and the terminal portion slipped through another one of said slots 18 with the peripheral reinforcing bead 26 at the open end of the balloon resting against the inner surface of the peripheral wall. The slots 18 serve the dual purpose of securing the balloon to the older and also of sealing the open end of the balloon against the escape of gas.

Next, a portion 30 of the closed end of an elongated cylindrical balloon 32 is threaded through one of the outer openings 14 in the transverse wall and the adjacent outwardly projecting portion of the balloon is drawn into the communicating slot 16, so that the outwardly projecting portion of the balloon extends substantially normal to the peripheral wall. The terminal end of the deflated closed end portion 30 of the balloon is slipped into the next adjacent slot 18 in the peripheral Wall, whereby the closed end of the balloon is secured to the holder.

The elongated balloon 32 then is inflated and Wrapped around the spherical balloon 22, while holding the open end of the balloon shut to prevent the escape of gas. The deflated open end portion 34 of the elongated balloon then is threaded through the outer opening 14 in the transverse wall which is diametrically opposite the opening through which the closed end 30 of the balloon was threaded. The adjacent outer portion of the open end of the balloon is drawn in to the communicating slot 16, and the terminal end portion of the open end of the balloon is slipped into the adjacent slot 18, with the reinforcing bead 36 resting against the outer surface of the peripheral wall.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the balloon holder and seal described hereinbefore is utilized to support four substantially spherical balloons 40 in a pattern simulating a four leaf clover. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the deflated open end portion 42 of each balloon is threaded through one of the outer openings 14 in the transverse wall 12 and is then inflated. The adjacent outer portion of the balloon then is drawn into the communicating slot 16 and the terminal end portion slipped through an adjacent slot 18, with the reinforcing head 44 resting against the outer surface of the peripheral wall.

From the foregoing illustrations, it will be appreciated that the balloon holder and seal may be utilized to develop a vast number of ornamental balloon patterns. In this regard the holder may be provided with any number of communicating openings 14 and slots 16 and cooperating slots 18, as well as any desired number of central openings 20.

The holder may be provided in any shape other than the cylindrical shape illustrated, and the peripheral wall may extend in opposite directions from the transverse wall, with both projecting portions provided with a plurality of spaced slots. The transverse wall may be eliminated, in which case the spaced slots 18 may extend inward from the same or opposite ends of the peripheral wall. The construction illustrated is preferred, however, since the transverse wall accommodates the provision of the openings 14 and 20 and provides a support from which balloons may project substantially parallel to the peripheral wall.

The foregoing and other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and the manner 3 4 in which it may be used, what I claim as new and desire nd slots therein spaced from each other and from to secure by Letters Patent is: the first slots and extending toward the transverse 1. A holder and seal for inflatable balloons, comprising wall from the outer end of the peripheral wall, (a) an annular body having a peripheral Wall, (e) the slots being proportioned to receive frictionally (b) the peripheral wall having a plurality of spaced 5 therethrough a deflated portion of a balloon, and a slots therein extending inward alternately from oppair of said slots cooperating to secure the deflated posite ends of the wall and terminating at their opportion of the balloon to the holder and to seal the posite ends inward of the opposite end of the Wall, open end portion of the balloon against escape of gas. (c) the slots being proportioned to receive frictionally 3. The holder and seal of claim 2 wherein the transtherethrough a deflated portion of a balloon, and the verse wall has at least one additional opening therethrough slots forming a plurality of pairs of said slots, each separated from the slots in the peripheral wall. pair cooperating to secure the deflated portion of 4. The holder and seal of claim 2 wherein the transthe balloon to the holder and to seal the open end verse wall is located at one end of the peripheral wall. portion of the balloon against escape of gas. 5. The holder and seal of claim 2 wherein the first and 2. A holder and seal for inflatable balloons, comprising second slots are spaced alternately about the peripheral (a) a body having a peripheral wall and a transverse Wall.

wall, (b) the transverse wall having a plurality of spaced References cued openings therethrough for freely receiving a deflated UNITED STATES PATENTS portion of a balloon, 2,396,906 3/1945 Windson 46-90 (c) the peripheral wall having a plurality of spaced 2,664,667 1/1954 Burroughs 46-90 first slots therein each communicating at one end with 2,922,252 1/ 1960 Van Dam et a1 46-88 one of the openings in the transverse wall and ter- 3,204,369 9/1965 Green 46-88 minating at its opposite end inward of the outer end 3,267,604 8/1966 Goldsmith 46-90 X of the peripheral wall, (d) the peripheral Wall also having a plurality of sec- DONALD GRIFFIN, Primary Examl'nfifl 

